Sr Software Engineer - Content Platform Engineering

ESPN; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Content Platform Engineering team, focusing on building scalable systems with computer vision and ML workflows for automated media inspection and enrichment.

You will design end-to-end media inspection pipelines, leverage cloud infrastructure, and collaborate with platform engineers, data scientists, and product teams to deliver intelligent content operations at scale.

Qualifications

• 5+ years relevant industry experience.
• Proficiency in at least one core programming language (e.g., Java, Python, or JavaScript).
• Experience with REST APIs or GraphQL for building and consuming web services.
• Experience with AWS and core services (S3, Lambda, EC2).
• Solid understanding of software design principles, algorithms, and data structures.
• Experience with build/deploy technologies like Docker, GitLab CI, Terraform/CloudFormation, and Jenkins
• Experience with containerization & orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Expertise with full lifecycle of app development incl. unit testing, code reviews, docs.
• Experience with MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, Postgres, DynamoDB.
• Experience in Agile/Scrum.
• Team player with strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Write and Maintain Software Solutions: Design, write, test, and deploy high-quality code to develop reliable, maintainable software solutions.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with platform engineers, product teams, and data scientists to ensure technical solutions support business goals.
• Production Support: Monitor and optimize production systems, ensuring platform stability and uptime.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.

Skills

Java

Python

JavaScript

REST APIs

GraphQL

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

GitLab CI

Terraform

Jenkins

Unit testing

Code reviews

Documentation

Agile/Scrum

ML frameworks

MongoDB

Redis

Elasticsearch

Postgres

DynamoDB

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science

Tools

Docker

GitLab CI

Terraform/CloudFormation

Jenkins

Kubernetes

MongoDB

Redis

Elasticsearch

Postgres

DynamoDB

Job description

Department/Group Overview

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more - all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney's media business globally.

Here are a few reasons why we think you'd love working here:

• Building the future of Disney's media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney's technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company's brands and stories. Disney+ . Hulu . ESPN . ABC . ABC News... and many more. These products and brands - and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry - matter to millions of people globally.
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Content Platforms & Operations is responsible for the development and ongoing advancement of the technical and operational functions driving the worldwide distribution and monetization of Disney's linear networks and theatrical content. This includes Disney's media supply chain and storage, network and theatrical distribution operations, media localization, network transmission and origination, and more. The global team also plays a critical role as the primary collaboration point for Product & Technology with Disney's EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regional business teams.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer to join our Content Platform Engineering team, focusing on building and enhancing platform capabilities with a strong emphasis on computer vision and machine learning (ML) workflows. Our team develops and manages a diverse suite of products and services that power Disney's media supply chain, enabling content delivery for iconic brands like Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, ABC, Marvel, and Star Wars. In this role, you will design and implement scalable systems, data pipelines, and platform services that deliver automated inspection, validation, and enrichment of media assets. You will be responsible for building end-to-end media inspection pipelines that leverage computer vision to streamline content analysis and inspection. Leveraging modern software engineering practices and cloud infrastructure, you will build robust, extensible platforms that enable intelligent content operations at scale.

Responsibilities And Duties Of The Role

• Write and Maintain Software Solutions: Design, write, test, and deploy high-quality code to develop reliable, maintainable software solutions.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with platform engineers, product teams, and data scientists to ensure technical solutions effectively support business goals and content strategies.
• Production Support: Monitor and optimize production systems, ensuring platform stability, performance, and uptime.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years relevant industry experience
• Proficiency in at least one core programming language (e.g., Java, Python, or JavaScript)
• Experience working with REST APIs or GraphQL for building and consuming web services.
• Experience with cloud platforms like AWS and their core services (e.g., S3, Lambda, EC2).
• Solid understanding of software design principles, algorithms, and data structures.
• Experience with build and deployment technologies such as Docker, Gitlab-CI, Terraform/Cloud formation, and Jenkins
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Expertise with full lifecycle of application development, including best practices of unit testing, code reviews, documentation, etc
• Experience with a wide range of data store technologies such as MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, Postgres, and DynamoDB
• Experience in Agile/Scrum methodology
• Team player with strong oral and written communications skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) or building AI/ML solutions.
• Familiar with machine learning model training
• Familiar with prompt engineering and interacting with LLMS
• Experience integrating machine learning models into production systems, including working with data pipelines and AI-driven solutions.
• Previous work experience in media or entertainment technology, particularly in content distribution and media supply chain.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience.

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA and Bristol, CT is $144,100.00 to $193,200.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Disclaimer

This position is with Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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